Mason researchers studying flexible ultrasound imaging patch

Parag Chitnis, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, Pilgyu Kang, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Siddhartha Sikdar, Professor, Bioengineering, and Qi Wei, Associate Professor, Bioengineering, received $499,977 from the U.S. Department of Defense for the project: “Training and Recovery Augmented with Ultrasound Myography and Assessment (TRAUMA) Using a Flexible Ultrasound-Imaging Patch.” This funding began in March 2021 and will…

Interdisciplinary consults can help primary care docs treat patients with chronic pain

Between 11% to 40% of adults in the United States experience chronic pain, and primary care physicians may feel ill-equipped to effectively and safely care for patients with chronic pain, addiction or both. Researchers from Tufts University conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary consultation service that supports primary care physicians who…

Patient expectations, doctors’ prescribing habits, and antimicrobial resistance

Antibiotics: Patient Expectations and Doctors’ Prescribing Habits May Contribute to Antimicrobial Resistance Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections contributes to antibiotic resistance, making some bacterial infections difficult to treat. This often leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality. Still, many physicians report prescribing antibiotics at their patients’ request.…

Study examines connection between oral and general health in patients with diabetes

Individuals with diabetes are at greater risk of developing oral health issues, like gum disease, yet care for these linked health issues are usually disconnected, split between primary care and dental care. A research team from the University of Amsterdam developed an intervention that provided primary care-based oral health information and dental referrals for patients…

Improving smoking cessation counseling and blood pressure quality metrics in primary care

In order to make meaningful gains in cardiovascular disease care, primary care medical practices should adopt a set of care improvements specific to their practice size and type, according to a new study from the national primary care quality improvement initiative EvidenceNOW. High blood pressure and smoking are among the biggest risk factors associated with…